Who is Mississippi Senate candidate Mike Espy?

File-In this Nov. 11, 2010 photograph, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, speaks at the Global Obesity Summit in Jackson, Miss. Espy was Mississippi's first African-American elected to Congress since Reconstruction, who confirmed Friday, April 6, 2018, that he'll run in a special election to finish the term started by longtime Republican Thad Cochran.(Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, AP)

Mike Espy in 1986 was elected Mississippi's first African American to serve in Congress since Reconstruction and served in the U.S. House from 1987 to 1993, handily winning re-election three times by wide margins.

President Bill Clinton appointed Espy as U.S. secretary agriculture in 1993, the first African American to hold that post. Espy promptly instituted reforms and staff and budget cuts to the agency, which he said was bloated with 124,000 employees and duplicating services offered by other government agencies and programs.

Espy resigned the agriculture post over accusations he received improper gifts from companies regulated by USDA, such as sports tickets, luggage, air fare, meals and lodging. Espy was indicted in 1997. He refused offered plea bargains and demanded a trial where he was found innocent of all charges. In a related case appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the high court in a unanimous decision — written by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia — criticized the prosecution of Espy and others as misguided.

Espy has served as county attorney for Madison and Claiborne counties, and on the boards of Hope Enterprise Corporation and Hope Credit Union.

As a congressman, Espy was known for working across the aisle, including with President Ronald Reagan and in 2007 crossed the aisle to endorse former Republican Gov. Haley Barbour.

Here are some things to know about Espy:

Age: 64

Home: Madison

Occupation: attorney, former U.S. representative, former U.S. secretary of agriculture

Self reflection: "I'm going to stand up for the good name of Mississippi, just like I did for Mike Espy's good name. I'm stronger and wiser and I'd be a damned good senator standing against those who would wrongfully accuse our state ... I'm more experienced than anyone in this race. The only other person with experience has been there three months, and that's not good enough. I've been through the fire and came out stronger and tested. All those things will make me a good senator."

What others say: "Mike Espy has a deep-rooted dedication to the people of Mississippi— and the nation ... Mike worked to expand and extend economic opportunity for those who needed it most — including young people, businesses and farmers. Now Mississippi voters have the chance to put him back to work in the Senate, fighting for the things we desperately need today— like better jobs, improved educational opportunities and affordable healthcare." — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker

Platform

Budget/spending: Espy notes he made large cuts to staff and spending as ag secretary and vows to push for accountability, including for Wall Street's influence. "Washington's incredible wastefulness of tax dollars is abhorrent to any sense of fairness or rational thinking."

Immigration: Opposes building border wall, because cost cannot be justified, but believes in "a secure border and enforced immigration laws that are fairly applied to all." Criticizes separation of immigrant children from families.

Trump tax cuts: Said he probably would have voted for the tax cuts, but wants to "make sure people see the benefits" not just corporations.

Regulatory reform: Would make decisions on deregulation "based on facts," not politics and most often "I'm going to come down on the side of business." Notes that he successfully fought EPA regulations that would have hurt Mississippi's farming industry, but pushed for food safety regulations after an e-coli outbreak.

Gun rights: A "moderate." Espy said, "I absolutely believe in the right to own and bear arms guaranteed by our forefathers," but said he supports "common sense limitations" in light of cases of mass shootings. Notes he won the NRA "Silver Rifle" award as a congressman.

Democrat Mike Espy pledges to work across party lines, during a brief speech in Jackson, Miss., Friday, July 20, 2018. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., unseen, also spoke on Espy's behalf. Espy is in a special election to fill the final two years of a term started by Republican Thad Cochran. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith was appointed to temporarily succeed Cochran, and she is running. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)(Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, AP)